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Chester board names paper of record despite chair’s complaints about Telegraph

By Shawn Cunningham © 2026 Telegraph Publishing LLC The Chester Select Board agenda for March 18 promised a low-key meeting with mostly routine appointments, liquor license and entertainment permit approvals and review and adoption of some policies. The most contentious item – given recent dustups over school board appointments – seemed to be whether to […]

GMUSD board re-organizes with several new members

By Shawn Cunningham © Telegraph Publishing LLC The effects of the recent Town Meeting Day elections and filling of its two vacancies are looking like a sea change in the operation of the Green Mountain Unified School District board if last Thursday’s meeting is any indication. The new directors —  Michael Ripley of Cavendish replacing […]

First hearing in MacGinnis v Chester perplexes judge

By Shawn Cunningham © 2026 Telegraph Publishing LLC WOODSTOCK For most of the status conference in the lawsuit that Kirk and Michelle MacGinnis have brought against the Town of Chester, Superior Court Judge Kerry Ann McDonald-Cady struggled to understand what the plaintiffs wanted and whether the type of action they brought was the right one. Kirk […]

Chester’s Chase announces run for Democratic nomination for state Senate’s Windsor District

 Heather Chase, a business owner who has served on the Chester Select Board and in the Vermont House of Representatives, announces her candidacy for the Democratic nomination for the Vermont Senate from the Windsor District on Saturday, March 14, 2026. Despite the cold temperatures and blowing slow, more than 40 people turned out on […]

Chester board adopts policy on public records requests

By Shawn Cunningham © 2026 Telegraph Publishing LLC The first Select Board meeting after the town’s annual meeting is usually a light one and last Wednesday’s Chester Select Board confab was even lighter than its agenda promised. Sharon Baker  was expected to present a request to use the Chester Green for a Vermont Food Festival […]

Whisper, internet campaigns fail as Jonynas, Roper, Fierman, Bailey win their Chester races

By Shawn Cunningham © 2026 Telegraph Publishing LLC With an unusually large number of contested races and two instances of controversial election shenanigans, Chester’s results for Select Board and school board campaigns have been highly anticipated. In the end, Democrats had a blowout night with all of their candidates victorious and most by substantial margins. […]

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  • Op-ed: Patriots for freedom of the press

    Op-ed: Patriots for freedom of the press

    By Tim Roper The rule of law has kept our country safe from despots for almost 240 years. Our Constitution, ratified by the states in 1788, was missing a Bill of Rights — an absence that kept several founders from signing. James Madison introduced one the following year, and 10 amendments were ratified in December […]

  • Cavendish Elementary enrollment open now

    Cavendish Elementary enrollment open now

    Parents living in the town of Cavendish are invited to contact Donna Hamilton at Cavendish Town Elementary School office at donna.hamilton@trsu.org to register their child who will be 5 years of age by Sept. 1, 2026. Kindergarten enrollment will be Monday, April 13 through Friday, April 17. When you contact us, we will provide further […]

  • Alumni Association hosts community taco night in Andover March 27

    Alumni Association hosts community taco night in Andover March 27

    The Chester High School-Green Mountain Union HS Alumni Association is gearing up for a festive Taco Night Fundraiser from 5:30 to 8 p.m on Friday, March 27 at Andover Town Hall, 953 Weston-Andover Road. The event will bring community members, families and former students together for great food and even better company. Guests will enjoy […]

  • To the editor: The Telegraph is doing just fine

    To the editor: The Telegraph is doing just fine

    I heard that there was talk at a recent Chester Select Board meeting about problems the board was having with The Chester Telegraph, which is one of two news outlets of record for the town. Then I heard the same criticism at the beginning of Thursday’s school board meeting. A few people seem to think […]

  • Bears are waking up: Take down bird feeders

    Bears are waking up: Take down bird feeders

    The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department is receiving reports of bears coming out of their dens and is urging Vermonters to remove their bird feeders and take additional steps now to prevent conflicts with bears over the spring and summer. “Do not wait to take down your bird feeders and bear-proof your yard until a […]

  • No Kings! Day protest in Chester March 28

    No Kings! Day protest in Chester March 28

    Join your community on Saturday, March 28 for a third No Kings! Day, a nationwide day of protest. Residents of Chester and neighboring towns will gather in solidarity on the Chester Village Green from 10 a.m. to noon to reject authoritarianism — and show the world what democracy really looks like. The Trump administration and […]

  • Vt. Poet Laureate Bianca Stone returns to Chester March 21

    Vt. Poet Laureate Bianca Stone returns to Chester March 21

    Vermont Poet Laureate Bianca Stone returns to Chester Town Hall at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 21 to present The State of Poetry, a traveling community-building initiative in which she shares poems written by past Vermont Poet Laureates that illuminate and speak to the world in which we live today. The event underscores how poems […]

  • Springfield High Theater Department presents 'Treasure Island' March 20-22

    Springfield High Theater Department presents ‘Treasure Island’ March 20-22

    Springfield High School Theater Department presents Treasure Island by Ken Ludwig adapted from the novel by Robert Lewis Stevenson. Performances will held be at the Springfield High School Auditorium, 303 South St. in Springfield, at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, March 20 and 21 and at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 22. Admission is […]

  • 'It's All About the Bluebird!' March 19 in Derry

    ‘It’s All About the Bluebird!’ March 19 in Derry

    Veterinarian Dr. Ron Svec will present a family-friendly program titled “It’s All About the Bluebird!” at 5 p.m. on Thursday, March 19 at Flood Brook School, 91 VT-11 in Londonderry. He will talk about the history, life and nesting of the Eastern Bluebird. It is a story of success that is due, in large part, […]

  • Education leaders to participate in public forum at Hartford High on March 23

    Education leaders to participate in public forum at Hartford High on March 23

    Community members are invited to attend a public education forum from 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday, March 23 in the auditorium at Hartford High School, 37 Highland Ave., White River Junction. The event will bring together state and local education leaders to discuss the status of transformational education legislation currently being debated in Montpelier […]

  • Three public hearings on deer, moose in March

    Three public hearings on deer, moose in March

    The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Board will hold public hearings on deer and moose management for 2026 on March 16, 18 and 19. The hearings will include the results of Vermont’s 2025 deer seasons and prospects for deer hunting next fall, as well as an opportunity for people […]

  • Artist Barre Pinske creates 'Rising Tide' performance space inside Chester studio

    Artist Barre Pinske creates ‘Rising Tide’ performance space inside Chester studio

    Barre Pinske moved to Chester nearly 20 years ago and is still finding ways to surprise people. Best known for his wooden bears, he has built one of the more unlikely creative résumés in New England. His latest project is Pinske’s Rising Tide, a dedicated performance space inside his 50 First Ave. studio, which is […]

  • Magic Mountain Chili Cook-Off raises over $1K for Ski Patrol, Outing Club

    Magic Mountain Chili Cook-Off raises over $1K for Ski Patrol, Outing Club

    The Magic Mountain Ski Area community turned out in force for the second annual Magic Mountain Outing Club Chili Cook-Off on Saturday, March 7. The lively afternoon event raised more than $1,000 to support the mountain’s Outing Club and the Ski Patrol. Held at the Black Line Tavern, the event featured 11 chili entries from […]

  • GMP offers help with your electric bill March 19

    GMP offers help with your electric bill March 19

    Representatives from Green Mountain Power will be at Neighborhood Connections, 5700 VT-100 in Londonderry, for 10-minute appointments between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Thursday, March 19. You can sign up for the Budget Billing Program to keep your monthly electric costs the same each month; it is available to all customers. You can also […]

  • Chester Townscape taking tree, shrub orders until April 9

    Chester Townscape taking tree, shrub orders until April 9

    Chester Townscape, the all-volunteer non-profit organization that helps keep Chester blooming, is holding its Annual Tree & Shrub Sale to raise funds for its beautification projects. This event offers good-sized, proven trees and shrubs at below-retail nursery prices. This year’s selections are: Snow Showers Weeping Cherry Tree Dwarf Buttonbush Easy as Pie Bush Cherry Reminiscent […]

  • To the editor: Gleason announces candidacy for Vermont Senate for Windsor

    To the editor: Gleason announces candidacy for Vermont Senate for Windsor

    Hello Chester!  I appreciate your time and attention to our political process. For too long we have watched our community buckle under the rising costs of living and the annual battle for a fair and balanced budget to educate our children. We deserve better. I’m Jonathan Gleason and I’m proud to announce my candidacy for […]

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